Patricia Bunnell

This professor has taught: INST152, INST402, INST752, INST762

Sort By:

Information	Review
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A- Anonymous 06/10/2024	Reads news articles of slides every lecture, class is mind-numbingly boring she doesn't teach in her lectures but makes attendance required. Course work is easy but grading is bipolar and nitpicky. She makes people who are working on their final project sit in a break out room alone for and hour as part of an attendance grade stupidest thing ever. Hope she is not invited to teach at the university ever again
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting a C- Anonymous 05/30/2024	I’m sorry but this class was so unenjoyable. There was nothing I enjoyed about this class in terms of teaching. I was very, very bored with her lack of instruction and non engagement. The classes were easy though. But how in the world did I get a 7/10 on my reflection paper? And a 4/10 on my fact checking exercise. That’s quite harsh man I put a lot of effort into those. And why did I have to be punished to stay in the breakout rooms? This course felt like jail. I worked so hard on my final project and received a 79/100 over “wordy” slides that’s not fair man come on. These TAs were ludicrous.
Patricia Bunnell INST762 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 05/27/2024	Don't take ANY course taught by her. This woman is a Paycheck stealer, and a wolf in sheep's clothing. She is friendly & polite, but it's all a facade. She was feckless and indolent towards this course. She is educated and appears intelligent in whatever field she did a PhD. but she is one of the worst instructors under whom I took a class. She was also so much out of touch with here assignments. The timeline of them make no sense. And this woman was insufferable when it came to clarifying doubts. This is going to be a long review as I will write about every insufferable thing she did and made us waste so much times on her assignments. For of the assignments, we had to read through 35 pages of over 100 different reports (maybe) confidential manually, and make up a cohesive & coherent story by extrapolating those reports. Then, we had to use JigSaw (a tool) to repeat the same thing again. This was tedious and time consuming. Took me over 10 hours to complete for only 5 points. Assignments shouldn't be this exhaustive. If the purpose of advanced tools is to save time, then just make us use the Tool only and be done with it. Why we need to do it manually? The name of course is 'Visual Analytics', not 'English Literature & Book Reading' See for our Final Project, we had to find an online dataset and carry out research using Tableau by creating visualizations. It was iterative in 5-6 part assignments. So we work on one part, she gives feedback, and we fix our mistakes. But the instructor was obtuse regarding it most of the time. See, 'Identify & Transform Dataset' was due on March 29th, 2024. We had to search an online dataset, which we'll use in our analysis & also should correspond to Research Literature. The instructor is supposed to review the quality and give comments. The issue starts here: Just 3 days later, on April 1, we have 'Final Project: Analysis 1' assignment due and 'Analysis 2' due on April 8th. The instructions are unclear. We have to create visualizations for both using the dataset we submitted before. However, the instructor graded 'Identify & Transform Dataset' assignment on April 10th. And no review or constructive feedback was provided. So, it means me and all other students had to anxiously and blindly use the dataset for the two assignments. It was unsettling because I was not sure if the instructor will accept the dataset or not. If one assignment due on April 1 is dependent on the feedback of another assignment due on March 29, then the latter assignment should've been graded immediately. Same thing for the grading of Analysis 1 & 2. Analysis 2 was graded on April 15th for me, which was the due date for Analysis 3. And there was no rubric at all for Analysis 1,2 & 3 assignments. Then additionally, we had to submit the draft of the Final Project due on 29th April. The instructions state, "next steps are about refining them and preparing for the end of the semester". The final 'refined' project is due on May 17th. Sure if there's so many days between the draft & final submission, the instructor could give thoughtful feedback, is what I thought. But no. On April 30th, the instructor changes the due date to May 7th, for reasons unknown. May 7th already passed. I submitted my final project, but still, the Draft assignment due on April 29th was graded on May 9th. This insouciant behavior from the instructor caused me lots of apprehension. And here's the best part about this instructor: We had to give a presentation during class for the final project. She gave option to give it live or create a pre recorded video. I did a live presentation. Everything went smoothly. However, I got 0 points for my presentation, because, this woman created a separate assignment on ELMS where we had to SUBMIT THE FINAL PRESENTATION, and it was 'missing' for me. People who had given the prerecorded presentation submitted their video but they got late penalty. This woman did not factor in the situation, that some students would give presentation live in class. She then told me to write the script I said during my presentation as a pdf file, and submit. Still for which I got a late penalty, and she said she was being very generous. Additionally, she just recycled the previous instructors' assignments, coursework and slides. On ELMS, in the 'Files' Section, the PPT slides had the previous instructors name, but Patricia put 'By Patricia Bunnell' on them just before her lectures and skimmed through slides.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting a B- Anonymous 05/19/2024	I’m just sad because the TAs and Professor don’t explain how you can improve. I would’ve really benefited from thorough feedback without any passive aggressiveness or shame from Pineo and Bunnell.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting a C+ Anonymous 05/18/2024	Too much expectations from TAs in terms of grading even though the assignments were easy peasy. They don’t grade us like this is a first grade class like ENES140 by the way. Definitely not with Dr. Bunnell for this semester.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting a B- Anonymous 05/18/2024	Okay the assignments were simple but the grading was very inconsistent with the assignment description. It’s not an “easy-peasy” course. More like a B- or C+. You need to put in effort. Even when you do, TAs grade rather subjectively. My main issue is the lack of depth in this Spring’s semester teaching style and this course being so incredibly dry. Breakout rooms I also felt did not facilitate an engaging classroom experience and I wanted to talk more beyond just the readings we’ve already read and have an actual debate style discussion and learn interesting facts about misinformation. It’s weird—this class was simple in structure but also tediously-graded at the same time. For some anssignments at least. But the assignments looked like kindergarten prompts—and I unfortunately underestimated this and received an average score on some of the assignments. Overall, just really boring. That’s all I can say. I would not recommend taking this as a fun elective if you want to actually learn and gain knowledge. Because you really won’t gain much than you already know.. Professor Bunnell is nice and understanding but she’s kind of slow in understanding questions. And she’s nice for the “Life Happens” policy but there were so many ways for this course to be better taught now that I’m out of the course. The assignments really were easy though I just think structural wise, this course needed a lot of improvement in lecturing style and TA grading + at least minimal engagement. She did talk to us about AI usage among classmates and don’t cheat. Yeah don’t cheat. Just don’t. Overall treat this class as if you’re an Info Sci major or just a highly serious class in general. It was unfortunately not a “GPA booster” like many people expected for this Spring—and honestly you should at least put effort anyway without shortcuts. I think this is probably the most “objective” review you’ll see for Dr. Bunnell amongst all the other negative reviews here .
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 05/18/2024	do not take this professor! i can understand her disorderliness at the beginning of the class, since the previous professor suddenly was unable to teach the class and it was pretty much pushed onto her. however, the uselessness of the lectures never really changed over the course. the grading at the beginning was also absolutely ridiculous, with points getting taken off for every small thing (which is crazy for a 100 level gen ed). The grading did get better over the course of the semester though. The TA is also really helpful if you email her. All in all, it's definitely possible to do well in this class but it was way too much work for a gen ed. Do not take with this prof!
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/09/2024	A lot of work, bad professor, she teaches a tech class but obviously does not know much about tech. TA is not great. Grading is heavily dependent on the TA. Avoid this class.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/08/2024	Very disorganized. The class is about technology, and it seems like the professor does not know how to use technology in any way. Grading is very weird, highly dependent on your grader. I would not take this class or this professor. The TA/Elizabeth is not the best. A lot of work as well.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/08/2024	Worst TA and so many assignments to do. TA's are picky and learning useless stuff.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A- Anonymous 04/18/2024	Going with what the other reviews are saying, Dr. Bunnell is disorganized and always seems frazzled during every class session and doesn't really seem to know what she is talking about. Lectures are the same in every class, with her reading off the slides, going over each reading, and asking the same, surface-level reflection questions to the class. Every lecture is extremely unproductive, with the same 5 or less people responding to her questions, and her giving up on people participating and just giving us her own answers to her own question. This 100-level class is graded like a 400-level, with a discrepancy in standards between the assignment description and rubric - you actually have to check the description of every rubric point for every point you have to hit in each assignment even though there are also expectations in the assignment description. Points get taken off for every minuscule mistake in your assignment. Assignments don't always line up with the readings/lectures of the week, and they go way beyond what was covered in lecture (because nothing gets covered in lecture!!). Dr. Bunnell and Elizabeth (the TA) are very nice, but there's just no way this class should be structured like this, especially given the nature of the overall course topic. I would've expected this class to be more engaging and in-depth, and cover more recent topics.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A Anonymous 04/16/2024	If I had to choose one word to describe professor Bunnell, I would have to use clueless. The class is about fake news, and how to ensure that we aren't victim of misinformation, but she seems like the kind of person who is most susceptible to online deception. Also, the TAs grading is super critical and nitpicky, especially Elizabeth Pineo is a real pain to deal with since she will knock points for just about anything. We have mandatory breakout rooms during the zoom meetings but there's a ton of people who are working individually so they just sit in silence by themselves for 30 minutes, but you can't leave since they will take away attendance points if you leave the SOLO breakout room.
Patricia Bunnell INST402 Expecting a B Anonymous 04/11/2024	Dull professor who ruined this class experience for me. She’s “friendly” in a sense where she’s not necessarily “rude” per se, but she seems to lack a lot of awareness on how to instruct and teach. Incredibly boring and lazy lectures and like others said she seems so out of touch on what she’s talking. about.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 04/09/2024	The lectures and assignments have little to not correlation with one another as the Professor continues to ramble on about specific authors in the readings. The way she teaches, it’s as if she’s not even well versed in APA citations and fact checking. The structure of the class is so lazy and I get confused on what reading she’s even talking about. She kind of just picks an author, mushes all the information together and expects us as class to participate when she really seems like she’s confusing herself. She also calls on random people because she knows people are bored of her. Who can blame the poor students though? The class has little to no structure and it’s honestly nails on chalkboard to get through. So incredibly dull and it really shows as an adjunct it’s her first time professionally teaching such a large class. Very poor mistake in choosing her to instruct this course UMD. What a complete nightmare. The assignments appear simple, and I suppose it is but my TA Tushman Rahman will literally deduct 10 points from your assignment when the rubric was not designed well—in fact there weren’t even any rubrics at the start of the semester. In fact, every assignment besides the exit tickets and quizzes you will mostly likely receive a full score (although I don’t really count these as these are more completion assignments in my opinion) I literally have a headache after every lecture. It’s like enduring hearing someone’s messy and confusing tangents. I’ll admit, my headache from hearing Professor getting so confused with herself sent my mind into such spins, that I often sleep throughout most of the class. But apparently you can’t sleep because you have “breakout rooms” towards the end of class where you’re forced to talk with others, when there is no prompts and engagement from the professor/TAs in instructing us what to do. Plus, I think most people are doing the project solo. The research strategy journal and final project/poster appears like an absolutely nightmare to get through if the course continues at this rate. Neither the professor or TA are unable to provide elaborative feedback to any questions. The class is just so disorganized and painful. I really wanted Ursula, and it’s incredibly unfortunate she was not here to instruct this course because right now this course is a complete disaster. Pile of **** to tell you the truth. I honestly think any student of this course can teach and engage this class better than the Professor herself. I was nervous and excited to take this course, but now it’s destroyed. And maybe this is me just being petty but Professor’s voice was just so grating to listen to. Normally, this would be okay if the professor actually knew she was talking about, but this is not the case. Elizabeth Pineo also appeared to be heading the course (as a TA at that…very weird) more than the professor herself. Now that’s embarrassing. But Pineo is also a nightmare. A very, very, nitpicky grader to the point where it appears she does not want any student to succeed. And she comes off as a goody two shoes and just way too invested as a graduate student. Also embarrassing. Do not take any course with Professor Bunnell. I do not recommend any course with her teaching the course at all.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A- Anonymous 03/24/2024	For a professor teaching an online class about technology, she does not know how to use it. The lectures are more of a talk about what you read and not learning anything. Also, grading is very very unclear. After a majority of the class complained she finally added what she expected to rubrics, but refused to give back points for anything even when she did not ask us to include things. There is a semester-long group project that we are required to work on during class, even if you don't have anything to do you just have to sit there in silence with the zoom call up or you lose an entire percentage off your grade. For a 100-level class, the grading feels more like a 300-level and overall would not recommend it to anyone.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting a W Anonymous 03/24/2024	She is very disorganized and Elizabeth is really annoying.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Anonymous 03/21/2024	She’s okay, like others she seems disorganized even though she’s nice surface level wise. I would say she’s not really your friend though once you get to know her and the TAs grade very harshly. Lectures are incredibly dull and not engaging and the class participation through individual/group work is so unnecessary. She does seem very clueless during lectures and there’s frequent interruptions. But the TAs are the people who really bother me. They dock points for everything.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 03/20/2024	Literally just goes over the readings during lecture. Participation points for staying in breakout rooms for the project, which is pretty dumb considering the majority of people seem to be doing it individually. Grade depends very heavily on who is doing your grading--some graders are seemingly way more nitpicky than others. On at least one occasion I was docked points for not doing something I was not told to do in the instructions or rubric. I was also docked points based on my grader apparently not exercising basic reading comprehension. No joke, at least one of the comments on my rubric demonstrated that they had either neglected to read the title of the article I referenced or did not know basic geography. Take a different gen ed.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting a W Anonymous 03/07/2024	It's weird to have a professor teaching us about use of technology but doesn't seem to know how to do anything with technology. Professor Bunnell has a very disorganized class structure, and it seemingly doesn't matter if you attend the lectures since we don't actually learn anything during them. The professor herself didn't really seem to know what she was talking about. The readings seem to cover common sense strategies instead of what we could actually be looking for to "fact check." Also, my TA (Pineo) is really nitpicking grades and will take off points for literally anything.
Patricia Bunnell INST152 Expecting a W Anonymous 02/06/2024	She's a nice professor but she is very unorganized and does not teach. I had to drop her class because I couldn't keep up with her. There weren't a lot of assignments but there were a bunch of readings and she randomly calls on you to answer questions. Very unorganized, I wouldn't recommend taking, find another elective.
Patricia Bunnell INST402 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/11/2023	There's really nothing to say about this professor's teaching, because Dr. Bunnell did not teach. She took material from Dr. Reitz's course, but did not post her lecture videos, and was not helpful in answering any questions related to the course material. I don't mean this as an attack on her, because it seems that she was replacing Dr. Yang very last minute. Regardless, she was not very helpful in a class that I was very excited to take, and made the class seem very tedious and not very engaging.